What is to make of the situation out of College Park regarding the head coach of Maryland football? Well for one, the fact that the media cares little could be construed as proof that a change was needed. That is, coach Ralph Friedgen needs to go because Maryland football is so completely under the national radar that the firing of the recently named ACC coach of the year can produce nothing more than a yawn.
But the situation is really about perception. The big shots at Maryland believe they can magically lure a big-name coach who will make Terp football relevant. That the empty fannies in the seats are not a reality in a pro football town without tradition of college football Saturdays as the priority of 60,000 people. That Friedgen's level of success, in which they were a game away from the ACC championship this year after struggling in 2009, was somehow insufficient at what is, and what will always be, a basketball school.
But we have seen this before at other schools that think they should be competing with the big boys. How can Maryland be as successful as some of the schools they compete with, like Florida State and Clemson, who sit in the middle of great recruiting zones at places in which football is king. And let's say they do well with this hire--how would they keep the guy if he is successful? Let's face it, they kept Friedgen after he went 31-8 in his first three years because of his appearance.
So anyway good luck to them. But perhaps they should have asked Kansas how happy they are after year one without Mark Mangino. Or Minnesota in the three years since they canned Glen Mason.
Although I am rooting for Friedgen to go out a winner, I am taking the points with ECU. I like that one a lot. Ditto Oklahoma State, while Baylor is another I like today.
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